First Posted: 1/6/2013
Lawmakers representing the Greater Pittston area were sworn in to office in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. last week.
Longtime State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston, was sworn in to her 12th term in the state House of Representatives. She defeated political newcomer Aaron Kaufer in the November general election.
Freshman U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright was sworn in to his first term in Congress.
He defeated longtime Democrat Congressman Tim Holden in the primary and Old Forge nurse Laureen Cummings in the general.
Mundy will continue in her post as Democratic chairman of the House Finance Committee.
The 120th Legislative District includes the Greater Pittston communities of Exeter, Wyoming, West Pittston, West Wyoming and Exeter Township.
Joining Mundy for the swearing-in ceremony was Cartwright whose 17th Congressional District includes part of Luzerne County and his son, Jack Cartwright.
I am humbled that the people of the 120th Legislative District have once again entrusted me to be their voice in Harrisburg, Mundy said in a news release.
I will continue working hard on their behalf each and every day.
Among Mundy’s priorities are adequate funding for public education and programs that support Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens, particularly senior citizens and at-risk youth, the creation of family sustaining jobs and clean air and water.
She also emphasized the need for greater tax fairness for seniors and working families, adding too much attention has been paid by the governor and the majority party in the General Assembly to the needs of multi-state corporations at the expense of everyday taxpayers.
Mundy said the staff at her constituent service office, located in Suite 113 of the Park Office Building, 400 Third Ave., Kingston, stands ready to help residents with state-related programs and issues. The office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The phone number is 283-9622.
Also sworn in at the state Capitol was state Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca, and state Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich, D-Old Forge.
Carroll ran unopposed and remains chairman of the House Northeast caucus. His district takes in much of Greater Pittston, including the city of Pittston, Avoca, Dupont, Duryea, Hughestown, Laflin and Jenkins Township.
Kavulich also ran unopposed. His district compasses Pittston Township and Yatesville in the Greater Pittston region.
Republicans control both chambers with a sizeable 111-91 margin in the House with one vacancy and 27-23 margin in the Senate.
Cartwright toed the Democratic line with his first congressional vote Thursday shortly after being sworn in.
In keeping with the partisanship and gridlock that dominated the House in recent years, the 113th Congress voted largely along party lines to re-elect Republican John Boehner as speaker of the House over Democrat Nancy Pelosi by a vote of 220-192. Twelve Republicans voted for other people.
Cartwright, D-Moosic, cast his ballot for Pelosi, while U.S. Reps. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, and Tom Marino, R-Lycoming Township, voted for Boehner.
Cartwright said he can’t wait to get to work. He was addressing supporters at his hotel and then at his office in the Longworth Building.
He said three busloads of people made the trip to the nation’s capital to witness him taking the oath of office.
Times Leader staff writer Bill O’Boyle contributed to this report